BART unions ATU 1555 and SEIU 1021 to sue over contract snafu

BART unions to sue over contract snafu
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/BART-unions-to-sue-over-contr...
By Henry Lee

9:07 AM

(12-03) 09:05 PST OAKLAND -- The two unions representing the majority of BART's workers said they plan to sue the transit agency Tuesday in connection with the lingering dispute over their labor contracts.

The unions said in a news release that they are accusing BART of "illegitimate and unprecedented actions regarding the unions' labor contracts."

The unions, Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555, said they intend to sue BART in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland.

The threatened legal action follows strikes in July and October. The second strike ended when the two sides reached a tentative contract, but the BART Board of Directors voted to reject it unless a provision granting six weeks a year of paid family medical leave was removed. Directors said the provision had been included by mistake.

The board's 8-1 vote last month had prompted union leaders to weigh options that include putting an amended contract to vote, returning to the bargaining table, striking for a third time or suing.

A BART spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@henryklee